Von Deutschland nach Istanbul und doch mit beiden verbunden: Integrationserfahrungen und Migrationsmotive von Deutschländern

Abstract

This dissertation is concerned with persons who grew up in Germany with Turkish parents, but later migrated to Istanbul. The study, based on interviews analysed using qualitative content analysis, investigates their integration experiences in Germany before the migration and in Turkey afterwards, as well as the motives behind their decision to migrate. For each of these aspects, the structural, social, cultural and identificational dimensions are examined, plus experiences of discrimination. While displaying a high degree of integration into German mainstream society in the other dimensions, the interviewees were often unable to achieve a positive social identity due to the stigmatization of their Turkish parts. In Istanbul, on the other hand, they are able to live out both the German and Turkish aspects of their culture and identity. The intervieweesa tendency towards individualization, biculturality and agency forms the basis of their motivation to move to Turkey. This migration is not an indication of failed integration in Germany, but rather it is the result of a very high degree of integration that led to expectations that Germany was unable to fulfill.